Capitol, Cebu city ‘compromise’ on apas

AT least 3,000 residents of Barangay Apas, Cebu City are closer to owning the lots they occupy after the Cebu City Government and the Cebu Provincial Government signed a compromise agreement that will allow them to buy the properties that are spread across five sitios.

However, they need the Department of National Defense (DND) to give up its claim on the lots. Otherwise, their 15-year wait will continue.

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed the signing of the agreement.

She hopes President Rodrigo Duterte will order DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to support the agreement so the occupants can finally buy the lots.

Present at the signing were Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Gov. Hilario Davide III, Rep. Raul Del Mar (Cebu City, north district), Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Board Member Miguel Antonio Magpale, City Councilors Sisinio Andales and Mary Ann delos Santos, and Alliance of Barangay Apas Community Association Inc. president Ma. Linda Paracueles.

In her speech, Arroyo said her priority was providing lands to the urban poor that was why she issued Presidential Proclamation (PP) 409 on June 23, 2003 that declared part of the area of what is now the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the barangay as socialized housing.

PP 409 is also pursuant to Republic Act 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.

She said the solicitor general, who represents the DND, can submit a waiver to land ownership claim to the court so the court can decide in favor of the residents.

On Oct. 12, 1959, the Province donated 47 parcels of land equivalent to 80 hectares to the AFP for military purposes.

However, about 21 hectares of the property are occupied mostly by urban poor residents, including retired and active soldiers and their families, so former governor Pablo Garcia rescinded the donation.

The Province considered their occupation as a violation of the donation agreement resulting to the termination of the contract. But the Province assured informal settlers on the property that they would be relocated before their houses would be demolished.

Then governor Gwen Garcia, Pablo’s daughter and successor, refused to recognize PP 409, prompting affected homeowners to go the court to seek clarification.

The case is pending before the Regional Trial Court Branch 58.

With Osmeña authorized by the City Council and Davide authorized by the Provincial Board to sign the compromise agreement, and once Lorenzana will sign it, the deal will be submitted to the court to await a decision that will allow occupants to buy the lots.

Both Osmeña and Davide are confident that the compromise agreement is good as approved by the court.

Osmeña said that once the court approves the agreement, they will tackle pricing.

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